In a class of their own: unis swoop on students with early bird offers

Amy McNeilage

''Something to look forward to'' … Michelle Lim received an early offer to study for a bachelor of science at the University of Sydney. Photo: Tamara Dean

WHILE more than 85,000 people wait to find out if they have received a university offer this week, Michelle Lim already knows where she will study this year.

The 19-year-old is one of an increasing number of students to secure a spot at university before the main round offers, which are published online at 9pm on Wednesday.

The Universities Admissions Centre says more than 16,336 offers have already been made in the four early rounds since October, which is about 5000 more than last year.

''Some universities have been quite explicit in their desire to reach out to students earlier in the process in the hope that an offer will translate into an enrolment,'' the centre's director of information services, Kim Paino, said.

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She said there was no doubt some universities were hoping to secure students early to safeguard their enrolments in the competitive market that has emerged since the federal government removed enrolment caps last year.

''It's quite clear that they are trying to attract students and perhaps one way of doing that is through early offers,'' she said.

Before this week's main round, the University of Western Sydney has already offered 5121 places, up from 1421 last year.

The Australian National University made early offers to 936 applicants, almost double the previous year, while the University of Technology, Sydney, offered about 500 early places.

Ms Lim was one of 127 school leavers who were granted early entry to the University of Sydney because they experienced disadvantage during their schooling.

She was offered a position in the bachelor of science degree because an eating disorder kept her hospitalised for 12 weeks during year 12.

''It's just been a terrible year for me and getting that early offer has given me something to work towards and something to really look forward to,'' she said.

''And I'm just looking forward to it so much. Even just talking about it makes me so excited.''

Despite early entry schemes, most offers are still made in the main round. More than 59,000 places were offered last year.

For students who do not log on to the centre's website on Wednesday night, offers should arrive in the post the following day.

Those who miss out on a main round offer can still be considered in the late and final rounds, which can be accessed from January 30 and February 6. Institutions make offers in the later rounds for courses that still have vacancies.

A full list of main round offers will be published in the Herald on Thursday.